THE
BATTLE OF THE SOMME Buy from Virtuosa Records Mailorder Store. Price £12.00 |
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About
The Score |
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Music
composed and orchestrated by Laura Rossi Click here to watch a short BBC feature interview with Laura Rossi about her music for The Battle of the Somme. More excerpts from the score can be heard at Laura Rossi's Myspace page. Click here Click here to watch a short excerpt from the film with Laura's score. Track Listing: Part 1 - 16:17 Contact Us Sign up for the Virtuosa Records Mailing List |
Laura Rossi's orchestral score for the famous 1916 film - The Battle of the Somme. In 1916 this film was viewed by over 20 million people, making it one of the most successful British films ever made. Laura's score was recorded in London by the Philharmonia Orchestra and mixed at Abbey Road Studios to coincide with the DVD release of the film - recently inscribed into UNESCO's Memory of the World register in recognition of its importance – the first British document of any kind to be included. During her research for the composition Laura discovered that her great uncle was a stretcher-bearer at the Somme and attended the 29th division (who appear in the film) on July 1st 1916, so it's possible he could even be in the film. He also left two diary accounts of that period and it was with this personal connection and reflecting on her uncle's diary entries that gave her an ability to empathise with the material and compose music that was in sympathy with the images.
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Reviews |
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'You
cannot deny the power of this score; Laura Rossi very adeptly
creates an emotional picture through impressive orchestral
writing which is at once colourful, honourable, celebratory
and moving. The performance by the Philharmonia Orchestra,
under Nic Raine, is pristine and the CD package hugely interesting
as it features extracts from the diary of a stretcher-bearer
from the 29th Division – Fred Ainge, Laura Rossi's
Great Uncle. The Battle of the Somme is a fine memorial of
music, for a point in history that should never be forgotten.' 'And these
troops in the mud grinned or stared at us to a new music score
by Laura Rossi, brilliantly effective, played with typical
dexterity and polish by the Philharmonia Orchestra under the
conductor Nic Raine. Whatever piercing image you might pick — the
troops' cheerful waves, the mascot dog dead with its
master, the trench channel’s mud and corpses — Rossi's
score and the IWM's new print will help them to reverberate
even further into the future.' 'Rossi
supplies a rich, subtle and binding score that connects 2008
to 1916.'
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'Rossi's
masterful knowledge of orchestration is evident from the very
start of the CD, never allowing for a dull moment in the music.
Her orchestrations are on par with those of the great Hollywood
composers. This is a truly breathtaking score that will positively
influence other young composers. Incredibly well written and
performed, Rossi's score for The Battle of the Somme
was among the best of 2008.' 'A
work of emotional depth and beauty... Laura's music, recorded
by the Philharmonia Orchestra and conducted by Nic Raine, reflects
the event's heroism with superlative accuracy... A truly important
piece' 'Haunting Score' 'A thoughtful,
elegiac work which wonderfully matched the images.' 'a wonderful
contemporary orchestral score soundtrack' 'a hugely impressive piece of work' 'an admirable
accompaniment to this monumental film' |